Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-23
RAIN AND LIGHTNING.
QUITE A sEvERE STORM HERE YES
TERDAY EVENING.
Eouscs Struck by Lightning Streets and
Cellars Flooded-other Damage
Done, &C, &c.

sent 1OItu IdlN, thuiiucI, anu liSuN-
ming. II was what is nowadays call
ed an electrical storm, the peais OF
thunder and flashes of lightning fol-
lowing in rapid succession and making
the houses tremble with the shocks.
The rainfall, if not unprecedented,
was certainly for the first fifteen min
utes about as heavy as any ever known
here. Many Of the streets were flooded
from curb to curb, while on such de-
clivities as Eighth and Ninth streets
there came down streams like mountain
torrents. In many places the culverts
became choked, and the water that they
should have carried off sought the next
nearest routes to Shockoe creek or the
river. II was that sort OF elemental
exhibition which has followed the ex-
cessive heat in other places, and though
rather late in its appearance here, was
characterized by something OF the
violence noted elsewhere. The wind
was at 10 tine very high.
LIGHTKIEG STRIKES N TWO PLACES.
While the storm was at its height
the lightning struck and fred the houses
occupied by William Shark and James
Anderson (colored), go and 9l2 st.
Peter street An alarm was sounded
from Box 45-St. James and Duval
streets. This was at half-past 6 o'clock.
The place was hardly reached and the
fire extinguished before another
alarm was sounded this time
from Box 14-Tcnth and Byrd.
The storm had affected the wires con
sidcrably, so the alarm came in differ
tntlv at different engine-hOuses, and
much confusion and delay re-
suited. Finally the objective point,
Wbitehurst d Ovens sash and
blind factory, was located, and
the apparatus centered there. 1t
was found that the tall stack OF the
drying.k kiln had been struck by light
ming and set afre. Some one at Hax-
all's mills, seeing the blaze, sent in an
alarm from the nearest boX-lower
Twelfth strcct-G1, and second alarm
was also sent in from 14-Tenth and
Eyrd streets. This brought out all the
apparatus which was necessary, for the
fire was almost out of reach if near the
ground il could have been put out with
couple of buckets of water.
The stack is about sixty feet high,
and has n paqoda-shaped covering. In
this latter the fire caught, and Il was
very difficult TO get stream into 1t.
The frcmcn did noble work. feariesslY
and quickly mounting the tall aiders
while the rain poured in torrents. !
hole was cut in the lower part OF the
stack and a stream shot upward, but it
was some time before this proved OF
any avail. At last the flames burned
dimly, and soon were entirely subdued.
The dryinG-kiln was used To steam
vhite-pinc timber for sashes, doors, &c.
The room is kept at a certain dry tenn
rerature with stcam-pipCs all the time.
None of tie contents viii be hart 10y
water. and the damage TO the kiln.
which is made Of wood and covered
with tin. will not exceed 5000; insured.
The loss of Mossrs. Shark and Andcr-
son 10y the St.-Pcter-strect fire IS be-
tween $50 and $40.
WAsHINGs.
4 new culyert is being laid on Eighth
street near Main, and it was 50 badly
washed Yesterday evening that it came
near undermining the strcet-car track.
Learning OF this dangcrSuperintendont
Seldon caused all the west-bound street
cars To stop there and TO be driven eau
tiously across, and the passengers to get
cut and walk around. This they did
through the pelting rain until proper
timbors could he proctAcd, when the
dangerous spot was planked over after
which cars and passengers crossed
without risk.
Tie police last night reported that
Main street near Madison near the
Pcnitentiary Spring lott had been badly
washed, and lanterns were fixed up to
warn passers by Of their danger.
During the early part Of the night
many of the electric lights went out
cause unexplained; electrical disturb
ances in the air possibly.
The rain fell continuously. bat moi
all the time very heavily, from G:lJ to
about 9! O'Clock.
sHOCEOE CREEK RISES.
The volume Of water poured into
Shockoe creek by dozens Of culycrt'
forced that stream ZIP with great ra-
niditv, and, for an occasion of thissort.
to an extraordinary height. The result
was that numbers of cellars III the Old
market neighhorhood were inundat d,
and very considerable damage WAS
thcrebv caused. The loss in some IN
stances will amount to large sums.
The sand laid on the granite paving
between the tracks OF the Electric
,treet-car line was nearly all washed
on. and in some instances it choked M
the culvcrtS and forced the water "a
seek other channels. In this way tho
streets about the Old market got to bC
flooded several inches deep.
Mr.. Robert Shinault had about 11C
fowls drowned in a cellar. Some oi
the country marketmen lost a gooo
many vegetables.
A load of lumber which was on the
ground on Nenable street above Seven
teenth was washed down to Seventeenth
Near the corner Of Nineteenth anC
Main streets tree was blowL down.
In the neighborhood of the Secon(
market the cutters being oyerrun
flooded several cellars, drowning
large number of fowls kept there by th'
hucksters, and doing other damage.
Barn and stable Burned.
During the storm between 3 and
o'clock Thursday afternoon lightning
struck the gsble-end of the barn of MIR
John II. Maynard, who has a lar3c
brickyarl on his farm just below
Rockets and the building took tir,
and was soon in ashes. The stable. il
which is kept the mules worked on th'
farm and in connection with the brick
ward. was connected with the barn
and this was also burned. IN,
fire made quite a bright light, which
could be clearly seen in Mancheste
and Chesterfield, and the frame build
ing being quite inhammable the strae
ure withstood the rayages OF the rash
ing flames but few minutes. Fortu
natelv there was no stock IN the stable
The loss on the building and forage il
the barn, it is estimated, would sum M
near 81 800: no insurance.